"Belfast" and "West Side Story" lead the 27th annual Critics Choice nominations

by Nathaniel R

It's not a spread the wealth year (sigh). Belfast and West Side Story led the 27th annual Critics Choice nominations with a potent 11 nominations each. Dune and The Power of the Dog were close behind with 10 nods each. With four films in the double-digits, chances are we're not heading into a spread-the-wealth kind of year as all roads lead in to the Oscar nominations (still a month and a half way on February 8th). That's sad for us given the wealth of options out there but it is what it is.

Full list of nominees with commentary after the jump...

BEST PICTURE 

• Belfast
• CODA
• Don’t Look Up
• Dune
• King Richard
• Licorice Pizza
• Nightmare Alley
• The Power of the Dog
• tick, tick…Boom!
• West Side Story

This list never lines up exactly with Oscars though CCA clearly wishes it would. So which one or two films get the chop and for what? We can't totally rule out Being the Ricardos, Spencer, Tragedy of Macbeth, C'mon C'mon or one of the international titles (A Hero? Parallel Mothers? Drive My Car? Flee? Hand of God?) 

BEST ACTOR

• Nicolas Cage – Pig
• Benedict Cumberbatch – The Power of the Dog
• Peter Dinklage – Cyrano
• Andrew Garfield – tick, tick…Boom!
• Will Smith – King Richard
• Denzel Washington – The Tragedy of Macbeth

Since the CCAs always extend to six in the big categories, to better predict the Oscars (sigh) occassionally something that is actually a 'critical darling' like Nicolas Cage in Pig will squeak in. But if we were only doing one of those this year, we were hoping it would be Simon Rex in Red Rocket.

BEST ACTRESS

• Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• Olivia Colman – The Lost Daughter
• Lady Gaga – House of Gucci
• Alana Haim – Licorice Pizza
• Nicole Kidman – Being the Ricardos
• Kristen Stewart – Spencer

There's your probable Oscar list minus Alana Haim, who was 'practically designed in a lab for film twitter appeal' which in the Venn Diagram overlaps with film critic appeal.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Jamie Dornan – Belfast
• Ciarán Hinds – Belfast
• Troy Kotsur – CODA
• Jared Leto – House of Gucci
• J.K. Simmons – Being the Ricardos
• Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Power of the Dog

We will continue to be embarrassed for everyone nominated alongside Jared Leto. It's such an awful brush to tar them with. One of the worst performances I've ever seen and I've been watching a hundred plus movies ever year for decades. 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 

• Caitríona Balfe – Belfast
• Ariana DeBose – West Side Story
• Ann Dowd – Mass
• Kirsten Dunst – The Power of the Dog
• Aunjanue Ellis – King Richard
• Rita Moreno – West Side Story

Supporting Actress continues to be a bloodbath this year. There are only five slots at the Oscars and someone with major momentum and raves will be shut out. The shut out this time is Ruth Negga but there's an extra spot here. Who will the (two) shut outs be at SAG?

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS 

• Jude Hill – Belfast
• Cooper Hoffman – Licorice Pizza
• Emilia Jones – CODA
• Woody Norman – C’mon C’mon
• Saniyya Sidney – King Richard
• Rachel Zegler – West Side Story

 This category is always a frustration both because the age requirement is way too broad (it should be under 18) and because people just vote on whichever movies they already like. But young actors really did fine work this year... there were a ton of quality options for this category in both Oscar-bound movies and well outside of Oscar-appeal movies. 

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

• Belfast
• Don’t Look Up
• The Harder They Fall
• Licorice Pizza
• The Power of the Dog
• West Side Story

To deny Mass here is super-duper dumb. Just saying. That film's entire appeal is the collective humanity and wallop of its ensemble acting.

BEST DIRECTOR 

• Paul Thomas Anderson – Licorice Pizza
• Kenneth Branagh – Belfast
• Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog
• Guillermo del Toro – Nightmare Alley
• Steven Spielberg – West Side Story
• Denis Villeneuve – Dune

 I don't personally see Del Toro as a true threat to an Oscar nomination this year  but Anderson, Branagh, Campion, Spielberg, and Villeneuve are all looking strong going into Oscar voting. But will we get a surprise nomination booting one of them out from, say, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Asghar Farhadi, Paolo Sorrentino, or Maggie Gyllenhaal. It's probably worth noting Adam McKay's absence here given that Don't Look Up made the Best Picture lineup.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• Paul Thomas Anderson – Licorice Pizza
• Zach Baylin – King Richard
• Kenneth Branagh – Belfast
• Adam McKay, David Sirota – Don’t Look Up
• Aaron Sorkin – Being the Ricardos

Will C'mon C'mon, A Hero, Parallel Mothers, The Hand of God, Spencer, or Mass  be able to knock any of these out with Oscar voters next month?

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY 

• Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog
• Maggie Gyllenhaal – The Lost Daughter
• Siân Heder – CODA
• Tony Kushner – West Side Story
• Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth – Dune

 We don't think this will list will transfer to Oscars but it might. Other possibilities include Tragedy of MacBeth, The Last Duel, Cyrano, and Nightmare Alley. Though we weep for Zola, Passing, and Benedetta which don't seem to be getting any consideration despite being brilliant adaptations. 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 

• Bruno Delbonnel – The Tragedy of Macbeth
• Greig Fraser – Dune
• Janusz Kaminski – West Side Story
• Dan Laustsen – Nightmare Alley
• Ari Wegner – The Power of the Dog
• Haris Zambarloukos – Belfast

Despite their frequent boasting that they're highly Oscar predictive, the Critics Choice Awards are not actually super predictive in the craft categories. That's partially because they have a bizarrely fluctuating number of nominees (we've seen as low as 4 and as many as 8 --?-- in various categories with no explanations given) but also because, if you're voting as a pundit rather than to your own taste, chances are strong that you won't be as accurate in categories that aren't as endlessly discussed and analyzed. Cinematography is highly competitive this year (as always) and other great looking films that the American Society of Cinematographers (or the Oscars) might site include Passing, Spencer, Cyrano, C'mon C'mon, and Green Knight. Other previously Oscar nominated cinematographers in the mix this year include the DPs behind King Richard, The French Dispatch, Don't Look Up, Being the Ricardos, The Last Duel, No Time To Die, and The Matrix Ressurection.

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

• Jim Clay, Claire Nia Richards – Belfast
• Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Nightmare Alley
• Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo – The French Dispatch
• Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo – West Side Story
• Patrice Vermette, Zsuzsanna Sipos – Dune

Belfast? Oh, okay.  But there are stronger options out there for Production Design including Power of the Dog, Cruella, Cyrano, Tragedy of Macbeth, and The Green Knight... Still Best Picture heat, as we see year in and year out, does wonders for getting a film random craft nominations, too.  

BEST EDITING

• Sarah Broshar and Michael Kahn – West Side Story
• Úna Ní Dhonghaíle – Belfast
• Andy Jurgensen – Licorice Pizza
• Peter Sciberras – The Power of the Dog
• Joe Walker – Dune

I'm having trouble imagining King Richard missing at the Oscars in this category given its Best Picture heat plus its noticeably energetic tennis match editing.  

BEST COSTUME DESIGN 

• Jenny Beavan – Cruella
• Luis Sequeira – Nightmare Alley
• Paul Tazewell – West Side Story
• Jacqueline West, Robert Morgan – Dune
• Janty Yates – House of Gucci

No Spencer is a bit of a surprise here but it could well  pop up in the Oscar list. Other films that Oscar might take to in this category include Power of the Dog as well as any of the previously nominated designers behind the lewks of Cyrano, Tragedy of Macbeth, French Dispatch, The Last Duel, and Electrical Life of Louis Wain.   Then again the costuming branch isn't always as "out there" with Off-Best Picture citations as they once were.

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP 

• Cruella
• Dune
• The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• House of Gucci
• Nightmare Alley

The Makeup artists in the Academy regularly surprise with their Oscar finalist list inclusions and omissions so we'll see on December 21st which of these films is the shocking exclusion from the finals. There usually is one! Other possibilities for Oscar nods in this category include  Spencer, Cyrano, The Green Knight, West Side Story, Power of the Dog, The Last Duel, The Suicide Squad, The French Dispatch, and under Most Makeup/Hair we might also see The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and Being the Ricardos in the finals.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

• Dune
• The Matrix Resurrections
• Nightmare Alley
• No Time to Die
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

 We're very curious which films will make the Oscar finals on December 21st in this category. Other possibilities include Eternals, Spider-Man No Way Home, Godzilla vs Kong, Black Widow, Ghostbusters Afterlife, Tomorrow War, The King's Man, and Finch.

BEST COMEDY

• Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar
• Don’t Look Up
• Free Guy
• The French Dispatch
• Licorice Pizza

I proudly voted for Barb and Star... though Licorice Pizza will obviously take this since the CCA does not have a Best Drama category (dumb since there is a Best Comedy category) so we know which comedies they actually take seriously as they are nominated in Best Picture instead which is not called Best Drama (though it basically is).

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE 

• Encanto
• Flee
• Luca
• The Mitchells vs the Machines
• Raya and the Last Dragon

 This list includes three Disney films. Happily, though Oscar usually defaults to Disney in terms of wins, they are almost always more adventurous in this category than the Critics Choice Awards have been, historically. It's kind of embarrassing that a Critics Awards is almost always less adventurous than Mainstream Oscars. We've never been sure why there's that disconnect with animated feature prizes but there is.

The Oscars generally include a foreign animated film or two. While it's possible that this list transfers we'd bet against it. We think the Japanese film Belle will be nominated at the Oscars in place of one of these, probably Raya and the Last Dragon. 

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

• A Hero (Iran)
• Drive My Car (Japan)
• Flee (Denmark)
• The Hand of God (Italy)
• The Worst Person in the World (Norway)

That's a delicious list but the International Cinema category is super-stacked with high profile contenders. We're guessing that all of these films make the 15 wide finals at the Oscars given that they're generally liked and high profile but can they fend off the other high profile generally liked international cinema offerings (I'm Your Man, Titane, Compartment No 6) PLUS whatever surprise darlings the nominating committees includes in the top 15 on December 21st? Will we see... Memoria? Great Freedom? Souad? Brighton 4th? Prayers for the Stolen? Do Not Hesitate? The Good Boss? Unclenching the Fists? Escape from Mogadishu? in that pre-nomination list.

BEST SONG

• Be Alive – King Richard
• Dos Oruguitas – Encanto
• Guns Go Bang – The Harder They Fall
• Just Look Up – Don’t Look Up
• No Time to Die – No Time to Die

 I personally voted for "Every Letter" from Cyrano which is not included. I am bad luck, dear readers. But you can't convince me that it isn't deserving.

BEST SCORE 

• Nicholas Britell – Don’t Look Up
• Jonny Greenwood – The Power of the Dog
• Jonny Greenwood – Spencer
• Nathan Johnson – Nightmare Alley
• Hans Zimmer – Dune

Greenwood doesn't seem like a consensus enough industry favourite (despite his immense talent) to score a double-nod at the Oscars and Nathan Johnson has never been honored by Oscar. It's tough to say who is vulnerable going into Oscar nominations (since we don't have the 15 wide Oscar finalist list yet) but Alexandre Desplat (The French Dispatch) with 11 nominations and 2 previous wins is always a threat; he's basically taken over the John Williams 'always nominated' spot.

Comments

[Raul]

Ugh, Jared Leto.

[Guy]

Passing and C’Mon C’Mon getting completely blanked (not even screenplay nods seriously?) is really disappointing.

Leto showing up here when even the Globes resisted is comical.

[Amy Camus]

Jared Leto is the only reason to see The House of Gucci. He livened up every scene he was in. What a torpid slog otherwise.

[Joe G.]

The Jared Leto nomination is bad. Him falling over on the couch discussing his father was a scene from SNL.

I'm a little surprised Being the Ricardos didn't make it in the top category but made it in screenplay.

I'm sad to see Lin Manuel Miranda fail to make director here. He's one of my hopes for the season, and I think his work with actors and directing that shows real talent.

[Michael R]

As someone who enjoyed HOG even I felt Leto's performance was terrible. He got more votes than Birney, Isaacs, Affleck, Alvarez, Plemons, Faist, and de Jesus. Think about that for a minute.

[Michael R]

Pacino would have been an infinitely better option from the same film.

[Michael R]

Wait...no Mass in Ensemble!?!?

[Arnaud Trouvé]

@Guy : The young actor from C'Mon C'Mon did get nominated.

[Mr Ripley79]

Looks like Colman will be the only Actress nominated not playing a real person,very sad no Tessa Thompson.

Moreno or Dowd will probably miss with Oscar,no Dench either,you know Bafta's going to go there.

Take out Leto and that Supporting Line Up looks solid,can Kodi win

I'm convinced Campion wins Best Director

Take out Cage and that looks to be our Actor line up,Troy is really happening strange Matlin missed,though i don't think she's that good in CODA.

[whunk (he/him)]

Haven't seen HOG or BTR but I hope Troy Kotsur wins.

[Peggy Sue]

Kindly reminder: Never fuck a Critics Choice voter.

[Nate]

Every time Jared Leto is nominated, a fairy dies.

[Peggy Sue]

The Academy will correct all the wrongs. Who would have thought?

[DAVID S]

So far I'm surprised at the lack of acting noms for Nightmare Alley.

[Frank Zappa]

@ DAVID S

Actually, that's one of the things that doesn't surprise me (even if I don't entirely agree).

[Yavor]

Jared Leto is the only actor who realised House of Gucci should've been a Mommie Dearest.

His absurd performance will age better than this incredibly mediocre movie
(trailer: sells us a super camp movie,
reality: this is neither camp enough, nor dramatic enough, nor nothing).

West Side Story 2021 is very enjoyable. Anita continues to be the killer role and the only role in the movie worthy of a nomination/win. Nominating 90yo Moreno would be so Oscar, "omg, let's make history or some shit". *pukes in mouth*

It's weird to give Nightmare Alley 8 nominations (including Picture and Director) but skip Cooper and Blanchett. That makes me think they're very close behind.

[Joseph W]

I am surprised and thrilled that after a GG! nod and now CC that Troy Kotsur is happening.

Colman, Kidman, Stewart, Chastain and Gaga look strong but I do wonder if Rachel Zegler could take out Gaga or Chastain in a more broadly liked movie. But Gaga and Chastain are bigger names and previous nominees playing real life people. Will be interesting to watch.

[Edwin]

I don’t know, I could totally see Alana Haim making the Oscar list over either Gaga or Chastain. Her movie has far more buzz and support than either of theirs, plus she has “breakout star” momentum. Stewart and Kidman are the only two real locks, I think. I could also still see Rachel Zegler getting in.

Is Peter Dinklage actually happening? I haven’t seen the movie yet, but so many people have criticized his performance that I thought he was out. Maybe this is another case of general goodwill within the industry carrying him to a nomination despite a divisive performance?

And call me crazy, but I’m starting to think Drive My Car might land a surprise Best Picture nomination. I don’t see Nightmare Alley holding on, and I’m not so sure about CODA or tick tick…BOOM! making it all the way either. There’s still wiggle room, and Drive My Car is likely to gain momentum now that critics are putting a spotlight on it. I think it’ll at least get in for Adapted Screenplay, and I do think it could show up in Picture and/or Director as well.

[thevoid99]

Jared Leto... EW....

[Drew]

Are Kidman and Chastain really safe? I am actually surprised to read some real pans on Kidman's performance. Regarding Chastain, will her movie be priority viewing for voters? She seems more sure than Kidman since she shows up in many regional critics list.

I don't really get the hype on Haim at all. It's sweet and lovely performance; but best of the year? Sometimes I don't understand the critics at all.

[Tony Ruggio]

No Mike Faist :(

[Lucky]

You know what? I have faith in the Academy correcting the wrongs and making the best decisions out of all awards bodies. Didn't they do that last year? Haven't they been doing that lately? I think that with most critics groups and precursors trying to predict them, they aim at everything (Ricardos, Don't Look Up, Nightmare Alley) and the Oscars have time to look at what's being elevated and deciding not to go there.

[jules]

Gaga is safe for a nomination. The only adult drama that has made any money this fall is House of Gucci, and that is thanks to Gaga. In addition, NYFCC gave her its stamp of approval.

The people who work in movies do not want to see the business die.

[Alex Hartsell]

Not bad and better than the Golden Globe Awards nominations. Also let us know when you will update the Oscar nominations predications on the 21st please. Also they just announced the short list for the nominations for Best Animated Feature at https://www.oscars.org/sites/oscars/files/94aa-animated-feature-eligibility-list.pdf.

[rrrich7]

Hi Nathaniel:

Do you know if Nightmare Alley has positive, negative or no buzz or chatter? I guess negative is the same as no. I'm curious because I just happen to have recently watched the original movie from the 1950's with Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell. (It's available on Criterion Channel.) Really curious to see what del Toro does with it.

[Frank Zappa]

@rrrich7

I'm not Nathaniel, but...I watched the 1947 adaptation on Sunday and enjoyed it, but it's hard to compare it to del Toro's version, which I'm told is more faithful to the novel. The 1947 version is constrained by the Hays Code, mid-century filmmaking aesthetics etc. but Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell still manage to leave strong impressions. On the other hand, del Toro's version is big, thrilling cinema with strong performances but it's not exactly an acting showcase. Which is why the (West Coast) buzz is muted, I think.

Then again, it hasn't actually opened yet, so we'll see.

[NATHANIEL R]

working stiff and rrrich7 -- i wish i could say that the buzz was true that its more faithful to the novel than the original film but honestly i coudln't really make out what had been changed. Felt very faithful to the 1947 movie (to me -- but it's been a couple of years since i've seen the '47) which is why i was disappointed. I prefer remakes to go in different directions.

[Frank Zappa]

@ Nathaniel

Spoilers?

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- The two endings are completely (I mean, COMPLETELY) different.
- The Steenburgen subplot does not exist in the '47 version
- The Jenkins subplot is more...intense...in the del Toro version
- Zeena/Blondell is more prominent than Zeena/Collette
- McClellany character not in the '47 version
- Dafoe character doesn't register in the '47 version

etc etc etc

It goes in a very different direction IMO.